One reason we love this time of year...

As much as we don't want summer to be over, there certainly are the things we love about this time of year too! Like the changing of the leaves, for example. I suggest everyone take a drive up to the mountains to appreciate this! :} It's also the beginning of the season for our favorite TV shows! Nothing like 'The Office' to keep you laughing! And personally, I'm pretty darn excited for Grey's Anatomy & Desperate Housewives to start this week too!! (and good thing for DVR so I can actually watch my favorite shows since I'm usually never home when they're actually on :}). But, I'd have to say the best part of this time of year is the fact football season is in full gear! The boys are well under way with their games, NFL has begun, and, of course, the thrill of college football is something we really enjoy too!! :} It's so fun to watch the boys out there playing! It's been great watching them grow together as a team, and learn about working together. (I'll take any help with life lessons that I can! :}) Both of the boys have been working hard at being the best they can be, we're VERY proud of them!! :} What makes it even funner this year, is that Doug is helping out as the Offensive Coach for Bradon's team. He's so good with the boys, I think this has been real good for him (and Bradon :}), despite the many hours that goes into this! Doug is also the one who makes sure all the games are video taped, then the boys come over & watch them. Of course, even on the "non-practice" days, they are doing what?...yea, playing football! :}

My job this year is to be "the banner maker"...right up my alley! Though I wonder why I spend so much time when they just rip through it anyway?! :}

The only hard part about this year is that the boys are usually at different fields, different times, so Doug has to miss most of Dylan's games, as I do Bradon's :{. We'll get in what we can; but, since Doug is coaching Bradon's team, I will be at Dylan's. It's his first year; but, he is loving it & has picked it up quickly, with much thanks to lots of practice with his brother! :} It's fun for him to be playing with his good friends, like Taylor & Grant (poor Taylor here broke his arm the first week of practice!....the joys, and scares, of football!)
The boys are working hard, they can't get enough of the oranges at half time!

I'm sure they have the best cheerleader around! :}

And in OT, they get their 1st win!! Whoo Hoo, way to go boys!! :}

How awesome that Aunt Colleen was able to come watch too! (she rocks! :})

Then we were off to catch the 2nd half of Bradon's game. As a bonus, we got to see our nephew, Taylor, on the field too!

Fun to see Uncle T & Brianna! You never know who else you might run into on the football field! Kaley loves helping to hold the banner at half time

And doesn't it make a pretty dress?! :}

Our Quarterback has done it again with some impressive plays....he's really got a good arm! (of course the whole team was impressive; but, have to boast a little about our own of course! :}). Another successful game down, which makes them 3-0 so far! :}

She's so cute! :} This reminds me of a picture of myself as a child, when I had fallen asleep with the football in my hands :}

So, if you wonder what we're doing on any given Saturday during the fall season? Well, now you know! Let's go G-HOUSE!! :}

Bonko Camping Weekend

Aaahhh...the much anticipated day/weekend of the year once again arrived. This would be our Annual Bonko Camping Weekend. I believe this was our 13th year now (I just remember Bradon being a little tot when we started, sooo..yea, 13 :}). The funny thing is, this year, that we ended up being exactly where we started. It first began when Elissa Green was still in Bonko. Oh, I miss Ela...her & Millie used to crack me up! Those two were two peas in a pod! :} Ela's family had some property up by Soldier Creek Dam, just above Aspen Grove Campground. We had our 1st 4-5 years or so there before she moved away . The deal is, which I'm sure I mentioned last year, is that the women get Friday night to themselves for Bonko night (which, let's be honest...we don't always get through when camping; but, we actually did 2 rounds this year! :}). Then whatever spouse's/kids want to come join us for the rest of the weekend, they join us on Saturday. It's not only awesome for all the mothers to get their own night away without any cares; but, it's so fun to get our kids, and spouses, together too! We've tried out different areas ...we've certainly got plenty to choose from in our part of the country (as Al Roker would say :}). Honestly, I didn't think we would get to fit it in this year with the Jackson trip & all; but, we are determined...so, of course we did! :} And nice to do it on Labor Day weekend so we get an extra night! (which the kids were happy for since they always feel jipped they usually only get 1 night). So, anyway, since Julie Neilson joined us...she so kindly offered up their family cabin, which so happens to be about a mile from Ela's property. It brought back some fun memories thinking about those days & the one's who have since moved on elsewhere like Ela, Tel, Millie, Niki, for some. It was awfully kind of her (and Scott) to allow us in! How fun that would be to have a cabin. That is definitely something on my "When I'm rich, or at least comfortably retired, list". Despite rough times, I'm not giving up hope on that dream! :} (of course, it also needs to come with the toys like snow mobiles & ATV's, and the big truck to get up the mountain! :}). It was a gorgeous view & so nice to take in the fresh air & just relax!

(by the way, forgive me for the not so great pics...I managed to come up with a dead battery to my camera, can you believe I would do that?!). So, I'll take what I can get from my phone! :}

The "Same Birthday Sistas"! :}

What a nice & calming view!

And even a cool moon that night!

Chillaxin' in the cabin after we finished playing Bonko

Good morning! :}

Then we headed down to the campsite to start greeting the families. Since my family couldn't come in until later due to football games (and sorry I missed them!), the Moulton kids kept me entertained! Bailey & Madison just crack me up!

We decided to take a little hike together & explore the area

Looking up at the old campsite :}

Maddy is such a lil' ham, you gotta luv her! :}

Julie & Scott came down to save us from the rain that was coming in. They so kindly let us all pile in the cabin for the evening until it went over us (it did get pretty cold & windy quickly!). And hey, we weren't going to complain about having a roof over us & some warmth too! :}

"Hey Ya'll!"

Despite the family reunion on the other side of the lake, Megan came back for a visit with her cute little family.

It was nice to finally meet Charlie!

Nothing like chillin' in the fresh air....aaahhhhh!

Deanna's turn for a "Julie Sandwich" :}

It was great to see Jeff too...it's been a while!

That's us shucking the corn

Tyler & Jacob being their cute selves

Another nice view to soak in

Our silly Julie

..and her hubby, Scott

Dennis & family made it!

I think Jennica & Aleah were instant best friends since they met. They were inseparable!

How fast they grow! I remember when Jacob was born & all the health scares that he had in his first years, hard to believe that was all ready 10 years ago!

'Princess Aleah" & her Daddy

Julie & Jennica

I just couldn't get enough of this, can you tell?! :}

Char's Alexis

Yee Haw! :}

Getting in a round of poker

The girls getting their dance groove on (Maddy is good at that! :})

I love getting our hubbies together too!

My man!

Jacob & Maddy

Jules & Jeff

Time for some ziploc omelets (a yummy & perfect breakfast for camping! :})

The boys, of course, had to get some football in!

Riding the scooter down the hill was fun for the kids...glad no one got hurt! :}

Chris

Forgive me for laughing at this terrible moment for Tony; but, it's hard not to. He was so kind to make fresh salsa for us; but, forgot he'd just cut up a bunch of jalepeno's when he put his fingers in his mouth. He was ON FIRE! His lips looked like Angela Jolie for a while.

Best buds, Connor & Bradon

...and Kaley & Bailey

The three little girls

Our girls being their cute selves

..and their silly selves! :}

Scott taught us how to fish for Craw Dads, which the kids had a blast doing! They even cooked them up for our appetizer this night. Not so bad really (as long as I didn't have to touch them! :})

Doug & I

The adults enjoying the downtime while the kids were fishing

Jeff showing us what they looked like (uck! :})

Tyler got one!

Look...even the girls did too!

Dyl caught a few himself!

Jennica

Jacob

Fun afternoon at the lake! :}

I believe this was some moment when she was begging for a treat again or something! :}

Ummm, mud pie!! :}
Soaking up the last little bit of sun before we had to head out

Gangsta Kaley made her own grills with the foil. Silly girl!

Do we have to go back to reality?!

We sure are lucky to have such incredibly awesome friends to share this with each year! :}